"Unfortunately this is now the norm ... (this) roadway is at the end of its life," Cross said, adding that the affected stretch of I-75 will be re-built in March.

Cross said reconstruction of the northbound lanes between 13 Mile and Crooks will begin this year, and reconstruction of the southbound lanes will begin in 2020.

In March, Cross said they will be shifting northbound traffic just before 13 Mile into the opposite direction as they begin tearing out the roadway.

"Two lanes (will be open) in each direction until the end of the year," she said.

When work on the southbound lanes begin in 2020, Cross said they will shift traffic before Crooks across the median into the northbound lanes.

As for tackling the potholes that come up before the project begins, Cross said MDOT is working on patching the roadway in hopes of holding it together for a few more weeks.

In the meantime, Cross said drivers should be cautious because when conditions cause one pothole, there could be more.

Drastic shifts in weather and the freeze-thaw cycle has made roads particularly prone to potholes, Cross added. She pointed to the few weeks in January where weather was mild, then the sudden freezing cold that hit during the weekend before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and another warm-up that followed afterward.

"Those extremes are what causes the problem," she said.

Ultimately, Cross said drivers should slow their speeds down and pay attention for potholes in the area — keep both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road.